Solidarity with Occupy Wall Street

40,000 people took to the streets today in 50 German cities in order to protest for a world with more democracy and against the crisis of capitalism, caused by the banks and large corporations. 

"500,000 children in Germany are starving," was the headline in a regional newspaper.

What this is about, more than anything, is that there is always money available to save banks while we are experiencing more and more cuts and cancellations to social services. That is why they are actually saying in New York "We are the 99 percent." The 1 percent on Wall Street, they say, is dictating how things should be. People want to have their say and so they are demanding more democracy and less power for banks. That is something that is just as important in Germany as it is in New York, Spain, Greece or, indeed, anywhere.

"The people have been demanding this for a long time. We saw just that during the first crisis. Or take the Greek crisis, for example. When Greece receives money, that money goes straight back to the banks, including German banks, and the Greek people have to accept cuts and various other measures that damage society. That means that they are trying to have the citizens, average people, pay for the crisis rather than paying for from the profits of the finance markets," said Detlev von Larcher, "National debts are already very large. However, when I hear in discussions that the banks are accusing politicians of getting into debt - when these accusations come directly from the banks that have been saved with state money - this is something that I find quite absurd."

Protesters in London have taken up the rallying cry of demonstrators in the US, with thousands protesting against cutbacks and the global banking system.

Taking their lead from the "Occupy Wall Street" movement in New York, the protesters - who were recruited through a social media campaign - rallied outside St. Paul's Cathedral, right next to the building that houses the London Stock Exchange.

"We are the 99 percent," declared the demonstrators, many waving placards and some wearing masks. The slogan was a reference to statistics that show the richest 1 percent of people in the world own approximately 40 percent of global wealth.

Taking a cue from the 'Occupy Wall Street' and 'indignant' protest movements, demonstrators have taken to Europe's streets, expressing their anger over rising inequality and government austerity measures. 

Protesters across Europe marched against social inequality on Saturday, accusing the banking and financial sectors of triggering an escalating debt crisis that has caused governments to slash popular social programs to reduce public deficits.  

Without a common agenda or leader, demonstrators in Washington have made clear that they no longer want to foot the bill for the rich. A movement that began on Wall Street has now spread to cities across America. 

The question is not why "normal" people take to the streets, but rather why this did not happen much earlier given the growing social injustice. There broad dissatisfaction with Congress directed at both Democrats and Republicans. Many people are also disappointed with President Obama. 

In the afternoon, the flock of Occupy D.C. demonstrators starts to move. They are mostly younger people, but also fathers who have work yet are worried about their children's future. Many have come a long way to participate, from New Orleans and even Alaska. The march goes down 14th Street through Freedom Plaza and then through the applauding crowd of another protest movement that is marching and also plans to demonstrate for days. They call themselves "October 11."

Lisa Simeone, who belongs to the organizing committee of "October 11," claims it's an absolute coincidence that their demonstration has coincided with the Occupy Wall Street and Occupy D.C. movements, thereby gaining more attention. Simeone began to plan the protest months ago to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the start of the Afghan war. Yet she makes her sympathies clear.

"We stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street," Simeone said. 

In contrast to the anti-Wall Street demonstrators, "October 11" has clear demands: End the wars and bring the troops home while removing the influence of money on politics. How the money saved should be spent is also clear, according to Simeone.

"In Jobs, apartments, education, health care and all the things that the people are lacking," she said.

The crowd at Freedom Plaza is a bit older - many union members have come, war veterans and the "Raging Grannies" who criticize the power of the few by singing songs with clever lyrics. The 69-year-old Vickie Ryder from North Carolina is one of these self-proclaimed grannies. They use the Internet and e-mail to organize themselves and protest against a system that Ryder believes works only for the rich.

"My son had a terrible accident and needs a hospital bed at home," Ryder said. Yet her insurance refused to pay, so she has to come up with the money herself.

99 against one percent

There is nobody in this country that's not affected by the cuts in social spending, with the exception perhaps of the one percent which can still buy their champagne, yachts and fancy cars.

The 99 percent has to work hard to scrape by while the wealthy one percent is doing well - that is the central motif of the movement, which is protesting for more social justice in the US.

The demonstrators know, however, the recession in the US has a high price... People die daily from malnutrition, insufficient medical care and other consequences of poverty. 15.1 percent of Americans live in poverty, that's 45 million people!

"If they arrest us today, we will be here tomorrow," one demonstrator calls.

There is much work to be done - but the revolution has only just begun.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way!